Autumn

Well, the school year started and once again, I fell away from this blog. The beginning of the school year brings with it hope, excitement, and a ridiculous amount of work! Honestly, I don't remember doing much except coming home and going to sleep.

We're now approaching the beginning of October, one of my favorite months of the year, and I could not be more excited. After four long years living in Florida, I finally live in an area that has a distinct fall season. I cannot wait to do all of the typical autumn happenings - viewing the fall foliage, pumpkin picking, apple cider drinking, bonfire snuggling, and warm, comfort cooking. My favorite season has arrived and I'm embracing it to the fullest!

Happy Autumn to everyone else who enjoys it as much as I do!

It's been a while...

Wow.  I kind of fell off of the blogosphere. I had every intention of contributing to the blog at least twice per week, but then life happened. I missed two entire months, and two of my favorite months of the year at that! Let’s give this another try.

While I was out....

October – Student teaching & grad school have consumed my life. I feel like every waking moment is spent lesson planning, teaching, or writing papers. I managed to make it to one Halloween party where some friends and I were the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. I was Addison Montgomery, visiting from L.A. of course. I missed the Northeast terribly, but was able to enjoy a few cool days at the end of October. I supplemented my yearning for Northeastern autumns with pumpkin spice coffee daily and comfort food, a la turkey pumpkin chili –mmm! That’s my October in a nutshell. 

I also took some time on October 8th to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. I roasted a turkey breast and served it with all of the fixins' - yum!

November came and went in one big blur. I honestly do not recall doing much of anything outside of student teaching and graduate school. ‘Tis the life of a student teacher.  I was able to escape all of my schoolwork to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends. We went to Kings’ grandmother’s house and shared a wonderful meal and many laughs with aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and my mother-in-law. It was a terrific holiday.

Oh, and I managed to get out there and vote on November 6th. Politics aside, voting to me is an inspirational experience. To know that we live in a country where we get a voice, a voice that so many of our ancestors fought long and hard to be heard - we get a voice.

Sometime during the two months, I managed to make one fall craft – an autumn banner. Incredibly simple DIY project. I bought wooden letters from the craft store, painted them various colors, hot glued them on twine, then added a couple Styrofoam pumpkins when it was hung.

And voila!

A simple autumn banner made my Florida apartment feel just a little more like fall.

Fall Equinox

Saturday was the fall equinox, which marks the official beginning of autumn – my absolute favorite season! Even though I’m in Florida (where the high was like 92 degrees), I tried to get into the spirit of the season. I spent some time daydreaming about a place where cool, crisp air blows and I’m bundled up in a hoodie, jeans, and boots, hanging out by a campfirewhich is surrounded by yellow, orange, and red leaves, I’m sipping some apple cider and eating a pumpkin-flavored dessert….this is my fall. This is the fall that I always picture in my mind. Well, this coupled with pumpkin patches, hayrides, haunted houses, trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, pumpkin coffee, Thanksgiving dinner, football, and apple picking. For four years, I have been deprived of most of the staples of autumn because of my location. However, next year I’ll have my fall – the fall I always picture in my mind, the fall I’ve longed for throughout my time in Florida. The glorious autumn days will be all mine to savor! [Can you tell I’m a little excited?!]

For the time being, I’ll continue to drink my pumpkin coffee and apple cider, find a way to put pumpkin in almost every dish I cook, and burn my autumn scented candles. On Saturday, I burned a mulled apple spice candle and baked the pre-made sugar cookies with pumpkin faces on them. [I seriously love these Pillsbury sugar cookies – I think I could eat the whole batch in one sitting – eek!]

While it will never compare to the first day of autumn in Pennsylvania, it will do for now. Saturday was a good day.

Simple Pleasures - Pumpkin Scented Candle

I love autumn. All things associated with fall bring a smile to my face. Cool, crisp air. Evenings that begin a little earlier. Brilliantly colored leaves falling to the ground. Apple cider. Football. Snuggling up in hoodies and blankets. [just to name a few]

Unfortunately, living in Florida, I don’t get to experience much of the usual comforts of the autumn season.  Because of this, I usually begin yearning for fall much sooner than normal people.

So this weekend, I indulged myself with a little slice of autumn that’s available anywhere: a pumpkin scented candle. [spiced pumpkin pie to be exact]

I burnt the candle all weekend and our apartment smelled amazing, while the scent made me crave pumpkin-flavored desserts.  The smell of warm pumpkin makes any place feel cozy and ignites nostalgia of my childhood days – jumping in piles of leaves and picking out that perfect pumpkin from the patch. [Not to mention the romantic, inspiring look of a room lit only by candles]

This simple pleasure reminds me of wonderful times, makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, and reignites my zest for life.